chapter 11

I realized that to truly make amends with Kiyara and demonstrate my commitment to change, I needed a fresh start. I decided to reach out with a straightforward message:

Ezekiel: Are you available today?

A few minutes later, I received her reply.

Kiyara: Yes, it's Saturday.

Ezekiel: May I take you out... please?

I hoped my polite approach would be met with a positive response.

Kiyara: Where to?

I smiled at my phone.

Ezekiel: To a restaurant. This time, I promise to be on my best behavior.

Kiyara: Promise?

Ezekiel: I promise, my dear.

Kiyara: Alright, I'll be ready in 10 minutes.

Her response brightened my mood, and I went to my car to pick up some flowers. I had a feeling she might wear white today, so I chose some daisies.

Kiyara

I still had my doubts about Ezekiel. People can change, but I wasn't entirely convinced. However, I decided to give him another chance and agreed to go out with him.

I opted for an all-white outfit: a white crop top with a matching short jacket, a white high-waist slit mini pencil skirt, white heels, and a white purse. I finished the look with diamond jewelry I had designed myself.

As soon as I was ready, I heard a knock on the door. I knew it was Ezekiel. When I opened the door, I was taken aback—he looked incredibly stylish.

He was also dressed in white, wearing white sneakers, a white shirt and overcoat, and white trousers. He handed me the daisies.

"How did you know I was wearing white?" I asked, feeling a bit curious.

"We share such a strong connection that I can almost guess what you're wearing," he said with a smile that made him look almost angelic.

I took the flowers and we got into his white Lamborghini.

Ezekiel

I had made reservations for us at Mastro's Ocean Club, a venue known for its elegance and vibrant atmosphere. It seemed like the perfect place for Kiyara—refined and delightful.

As we were led to our table and given the menu, I couldn't help but watch Kiyara's face light up. She ordered wine, steak, and something else I didn't quite catch because I was preoccupied with thoughts about our relationship.

"Sir," I heard the waiter's voice, which brought me back to the present. I quickly ordered something for myself and noticed Kiyara's smile, which made me happy.

"This is a really nice place. I don't usually go out, so I've never been here before," she said with her charming voice.

"I know. You tend to prefer more casual spots and avoid places like this because you find them a bit too formal," I said with a smile.

"And yet you brought me here?" she asked.

"I thought it would be nice for you to experience something different," I replied.

"By the way, how do you know that?" she asked, sounding curious.

I decided to be open with her. "I've had some discreet monitoring in place at your house," I said gently. Her eyes widened in surprise.

"You did what?" she asked, her voice rising. "You'd better remove them or I swear I'll never speak to you again... How long have they been there?"

"For two years," I said calmly. She choked on her water, and I handed her some napkins.

"Two years??" she exclaimed, causing a stir among the other diners. I smiled and said, "Yes, I've been keeping an eye on you for two years. You didn't believe me when I said I was very interested, and I'm not ready to change that just yet."

"And why exactly?" she asked, clearly unsettled.

"If there were no cameras, how would I keep track of you when I'm not around? Seeing your face is my motivation," I explained calmly.

"No, that's unsettling. Remove them or I'll report you to the authorities," she said firmly.

"Trust me, that won't be effective," I said, taking a bite of my steak.

"You're planning to use your influence?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, it's related to my work," I replied.

"What work?" she asked, intrigued.

I was pleased she was interested. "I work with the government. My company develops advanced technologies and equipment for governmental purposes," I explained, sipping my Gout de Diamants champagne.

"What?" she looked astonished and then surprisingly laughed. "No way," she said. "There's no way."

She then looked at me seriously and said, "You see this champagne?" I pointed to the three bottles of Gout de Diamants. "One bottle costs 1.828 million euros," I said calmly.

She was shocked and said, "No, you must be joking."

"Look it up online," I suggested. She quickly searched on her phone and her eyes widened as she confirmed the price.

"If I can afford this, then I can definitely own E-Tech," I said with a smile.

"That doesn't prove anything. A billionaire could afford it," she said, provoking me.

"Alright, then how did I get you that dress?" I asked.

"What dress?" she asked, then realized what I meant.

"No! You didn't!" she said, covering her mouth in shock. "You were the one?" she gasped.

"Who else could it be? If it were someone else, you know I wouldn't take kindly to it," I said casually. She drank a whole glass of champagne, her eyes wide.

"I must be dreaming," she said, amazed.

"You're not dreaming, dear."

"I can't believe you're that wealthy, Ezekiel," she said, still in disbelief.

"You'll have to accept it because it will soon be yours, my love," I said softly.

"No, it's too much. I—" she trailed off, looking distressed. I handed her a glass of water to help her calm down.

"What's mine is yours, remember," I said, gently wiping the side of her lips with a white napkin. She looked at me, sighed, and stayed quiet until I dropped her off at her house. I watched her go inside, turn off the lights, and then I headed home.

Kiyara

"Hahahahaha," my friends laughed as if I had told a funny story.

"You must be kidding, Kiyara. There's no way someone can be that rich," Ariel said, still laughing.

"Wow, you don't believe me? I didn't either until I saw the champagne's price online," I said, showing Ariel and Bella the Gout de Diamants champagne Ezekiel had given me. They stopped laughing immediately.

"Gout de Diamants champagne?" Bella said, removing her glasses. "Is this for real?"

"It's not!" I insisted, and we all screamed together.

"Ezekiel King works for the government?" Ariel asked.

"My goodness, I didn't realize he was that wealthy," Bella said.

"I mean, if we think about it, he isn't on the world's richest list," I said, and we all agreed.

"Maybe he prefers to keep a low profile," Ariel suggested.

"So, he was the one who got that dress?" Bella asked. Ariel gasped, and I nodded.

"Yes," I confirmed.

"Oh my gosh!" Ariel exclaimed, hitting me playfully. "And you're telling us you're still not sure about him?"

"I'm sorry, but Kiyara... you must be out of your mind," Bella said, surprising me.

"What? You too, Bella?" I asked, astonished.

"Yes, me too!" she said loudly.

"He did all this for you and you're still hesitant?" Ariel asked, visibly upset.

"Oh, come on, we don't need his money. We're the K sisters; we're successful in our own right," I said, trying to shift their perspective.

They looked at me with no expression. "You're unbelievable," Bella said and left. Ariel patted my shoulder with a sigh before leaving as well.

I felt a bit betrayed. They hadn't even met him officially, and they were already on his side. It was hard to believe.